NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA
January 18, 2006

IM 4974

TO:		County Social Service Directors
Economic Assistance Policy Regional Representatives
Economic Assistance Policy Quality Control Reviewers

FROM:	Blaine Nordwall, Director, Economic Assistance Policy

SUBJECT:	Increase in the Mandatory Utility Standard for Heating

PROGRAMS:	Food Stamps

RETENTION: 	Until Manualized

EFFECTIVE:	March 2006 Benefits

Shelter Costs – 430-05-55-40

The Food Stamp Program received Federal approval to increase the Standard Utility Allowance (HL SU), which is the mandatory utility standard for households that incur heating cost.  The request was submitted because of the substantial increase in heating costs that are being realized by the residents of North Dakota.  Over half of the Food Stamp caseload is entitled to HL SU.

Effective with the benefit month of March 2006, the HL SU will be increased from $476.00 to $524.00.  Only open Food Stamp cases that have the HL SU on the EXSA screen in TECS will be unauthorized on 01/31/06 as this is a mass change.

The mandatory utility standards that do not include heating, Limited Utility Allowance (LU SA), Minimum Utility Standard (MU), and the Telephone Standard (TL), will remain unchanged.